Govt Hints No Pay Rise for Teachers
Teachers across Zimbabwe are bracing for another difficult term after government all but ruled out any immediate salary hikes, despite mounting pressure over the rising cost of living.
Schools are set to reopen for the third term on Tuesday, September 9, with educators still earning US$270 plus local currency allowances far below the poverty datum line.
During a heated parliamentary session this week, Glen View North MP Happymore Chidziva grilled Public Service Minister Edgar Moyo on what concrete measures were in place to cushion teachers, including possible non-monetary benefits such as fuel allocations and housing.
But Moyo’s response offered little hope, with the minister insisting that salary reviews were ongoing under the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) but stressing the need to balance teacher welfare with “fiscal sustainability.”
According to NewZimbabwe, the minister further highlighted non-monetary incentives such as land allocations, duty-free vehicle importation facilities, access to the Government Employees Mutual Savings (GEMS) scheme, and plans to expand institutional accommodation for teachers.
“The ministry continues to engage with relevant stakeholders to explore more innovative ways of cushioning teachers from economic pressures, including school-based incentives supported through local communities and responsible authorities,” Moyo said.
Zimbabwe remains one of the few countries in the region where educators are among the lowest paid.
A 2021 comparative report showed stark contrasts: Namibian teachers earned the equivalent of US$1,759 per month, while Botswana salaries ranged between US$452 and US$1,724, and Lesotho’s average stood at US$792 in 2024.
With another school term beginning, teachers are once again left counting the cost of survival in a country where inflation continues to erode their already meagre pay.
